Chicago – December 10, 2025
Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand escalated sharply this week as both Southeast Asian neighbors blamed each other for violent border clashes that erupted on Monday. Months of simmering disputes have now boiled over into open conflict, with little sign of diplomatic progress.
Thailand’s foreign minister said Tuesday that negotiations were not possible under current conditions and dismissed the likelihood of any third-party mediation. Meanwhile, a senior adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet told Reuters that Cambodia remained “ready to talk at any time,” highlighting the growing diplomatic rift.
Trump Claims He Could Intervene to “Stop a War”
At a rally in Pennsylvania, former U.S. President Donald Trump referenced the renewed fighting while listing international conflicts he claimed to have prevented during his tenure. Trump said he might have to “make a phone call” to halt clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, calling both “very powerful countries.”
Cambodia Withdraws Athletes From Regional Games
In response to the escalating violence, Cambodia announced Wednesday that its athletes would not participate in the Southeast Asian Games hosted in Thailand. Officials cited security concerns and pressure from worried families.
Rockets, Drones and Airstrikes Reported Along the Border
Thailand’s military reported that BM-21 rockets, allegedly fired by Cambodian forces, landed near Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin province, prompting the evacuation of patients and staff. The Thai military also said drones, tanks and rocket systems were used in multiple border zones, including areas around the disputed Preah Vihear temple.
A military update from Thailand claimed its forces had destroyed an anti-drone site south of Chong Chom to support operations clearing Cambodian troops hiding inside a mango plantation near the frontline.
Cambodian military officials issued counter-accusations, alleging that Thailand had launched artillery strikes and armed drone attacks in Pursat province, fired mortars into civilian neighborhoods in Battambang, and even sent F-16 fighter jets into Cambodian airspace, dropping bombs near residential areas.
